Ontario Rainbow Trout Fishing

Rainbow Trout

Spring (Start of Season)

Rivers, streams and creeks run wild with rainbows during the spring as
they make their yearly spawning migration. Spring steelheading truly is a
sign of spring, and fishing can be fun and easy at this time of year. Arm
yourself with a long, noodle rod, load up your reel with six-pound test
line, and bait up your hooks with spawn sacks in order to get in on the
game. Rainbows can be found in many typical areas of a stream - deep
pools, rapids and log jams or undercut banks. If the water is clear, your
best approach is to scale down your presentation size as the fish will be
much more finicky. Scale up during muddy or high water periods. Polarized
glasses are a must when stream fishing as they help you locate fish hidden
below the water's depth, and also structure areas that are likely to hold
steelies.

Summer

Big lake fishing is the name of the game when it comes to catching
rainbows during the summer. Ontario's Great Lakes are the playing field
for anglers in search of trout to test their skills with. Downrigging is
the only way to go during the summer, as you will need to present your
lure at the appropriate depth for the fish and will need the necessary
tackle to fight and land these fierce fighters. Spoons are the number one
choice for rainbow hunters and the colour to use can often be an art form.
The use of different coloured prism tape will add to your spoons
effectiveness and will help cover the different variables you may
encounter. Fishfinders play a major part in trout fishing during the
summer as they help anglers locate the schools of baitfish that the trout
are feeding on, and help in locating rainbows and determining the depth to
run your lures.

Fall

Fall signifies a "fake spawn" in the rainbow trout, and many fish will
once again migrate the many tributary streams that Ontario offers. Fishing
the same way you did in the spring will enable you to catch fish, although
you may hook into the odd bonus salmon while out on the water. Another
tried and tested tactic is fishing from piers and in harbour mouths come
fall. Intercepting these fish before or after they reach the rivers can
bring tremendous days on the water. Try throwing spoons, spinners and
crankbaits to these acrobatic trout, or bottom bounce with spawn sacks or
minnows for those fish interested in the real thing. Make sure that your
reel is full to the brim with line as these fish can make long runs and
take plenty of line with them.